10 September 2015

What is the major problem that will plague a team that caters to the needs of their sister team, which is considered the favorite of their mother company? Answer, a plethora of players that they don’t need and scarcity of talents they badly require.

This is the case hampering the development of Barako Bull and will be the main reason why they won’t improve anytime soon.

Due to off-season trades Barako found itself with a crowded backcourt as Josh Urbiztondo, Emman Monfort and Jens Knuttel were acquired from Ginebra and Jeric Fortuna from San Miguel Beer, joining Energy playmakers RR Garcia and Chico Lanete.

Why did they allow this to happen? Why would a team acquire six guards at any point in time? These senseless trades add credence to the suspicion that Barako Bull is in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) only to serve the three San Miguel Corporation (SMC) squads: Barangay Ginebra, San Miguel Beermen and Star Hotshots.

As a result, Energy coach Koy Banal is hard-pressed right now to find a viable transaction that will land them a quality big man. Banal, however, declined to name the team or teams they are dealing with nor the player on his wish list.

"We are in need of a big man and we're still working on it. Hopefully, magiging kapalit at least dalawa sa mga point guards namin sa ngayon," said Banal while refusing to add more details since doing so might jeopardize the deal they are working on.

"Basta pwedeng kahit beterano and we are sure to welcome him with open arms once na dumating siya sa amin," stated Banal.

To market their trading chips, Banal tried to insinuate that it would be difficult to let go of any of the six point guards.

"Si RR maganda ang inilaro last season and the same with Chico, samantalang sina Urbiztondo and Fortuna may mga championship experience na ang mga iyan. Iyung energy naman na pwedeng ibigay nila Monfort at Knuttel off the bench immeasurable kaya it will really be tough," said Banal.

"I’m sure na kahit sino sa kanila would be a valuable acquisition sa kahit saang team. Given the playing minutes and the break, sigurado iyan."

It’s just that the trade for a frontliner who could join Rico Maierhofer, Jake Pascual, Jondan Salvador, Willy Wilson and rookies Yutien Andrada and Michael Angelo Miranda needs to be done.

"Andrada and Miranda have been doing great in practice at si Willy can move over to the 4-slot, pero siyempre kulang pa rin nga kami sa bigs," explained Banal. "Nandiyan pa rin ang need namin for a legitimate center."

If the trade doesn’t push through Banal said his team would still be ready for the Philippine Cup that kicks off the season on 18 October 2015. Just don’t expect them to move beyond the quarterfinals, and that’s pushing it far already.

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PBA Advisory

2017 Commissioner's Cup Format

The tournament allows teams to hire foreign players or imports with a height limit of 6-foot-10.

The top 2 teams will earn twice-to-beat edges over Nos. 7 and 8 while the No. 3 against No. 6 and No. 4 versus No. 5 pairing will be a best-of-three affair in the quarterfinals.

The semifinal stage will have a pair of best-of-five matches and the finals will be a race-to-four affair.

Gilas Pilipinas

Manila will host one of the three tournaments in the 2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament. The Philippine national men’s basketball team will try to pull off massive upsets against France, New Zealand, Canada, Turkey and Senegal in the competition slated on July 5 to July 10 at Mall of Asia Arena.

A total of 18 teams will participate in the three-nation event whose champions will book tickets to the 2016 Rio Olympics.